Linden suckers

by John
(Will County, IL)

I have a Linden that has a problem with suckers. I am thinking about digging down cutting, backfilling, putting down a thick rubber tree mat, and filling in the trunk gap with some type of liquid rubber, like Flexseal.

Would this be damaging? Would it possibly work?

Comments for Linden suckers

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Jun 30, 2021

Yes, this would be damaging!
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

To be honest, I wouldn't do this. The damage you will do will be severe. Some trees do this more than others, especially if they're grafted. The rootstock is more powerful than the scion and wants to take over.

I have a few trees like this, and the only solution is to continually cut the suckers off as close to the trunk as you can.

Jul 01, 2021

Pear Tree That Has The Same Suckers
by: Mary

I agree with Jacki.

We have had a beautiful flowering pear that puts off many suckers. I've learned to simply brush them off. The sooner the better.

As a matter of fact, I saw Roger Cook from This Old House home improvement show say and do the very same thing, so I felt justified. :-)

Actually, I find that the damage to the tree is less if I rub the suckers off when they're small. I do this a couple times and then they seem to quit for the rest of the year.

Guess what I'm teaching our grandsons? :-)

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